Robotic Surgery: Medicine or Marketing?

An Ethical and Clinical Exploration of the Pros & Cons of Robotic Surgery

PHILADELPHIA – Robotic surgery – is it truly an advance for modern medicine, or just a product of slick consumer advertising campaigns and targeted marketing to physicians?

Advocates say robots help surgeons perform surgery with greater access, visibility and precision all which reduce pain and blood loss, shortening hospital stays and ultimately getting patients back to work and on with their lives more quickly.

Critics claim that despite its rapidly increasing growth and popularity, there isn’t adequate solid scientific research to show robotic surgery is any better – or any more effective – of a treatment than open surgery or laparoscopic surgery.

WHAT:

Join us for a media seminar and expert panel to explore the pros and cons of one of the hottest and most hotly contested approaches to modern surgery – remote and minimally invasive surgery through the use of robots – from surgical, ethical and financial perspectives.

Tour and demonstration of state-of-the-art “augmented reality“ 3-D robotic operating and teaching suite at Pennsylvania HospitalOne of the first on the east coast, this new system interfaces with surgical robots, enabling the entire OR team to view and operate in 3-D along with the robotic console surgeon.

Guests will have the opportunity to sample use of the robot. Please be prepared to don “bunny suits” bonnets for OR tour.

WHO:

Key Speakers:

Jonathan D. Moreno, MDDavid and Lyn Silfen University Professor of Medical Ethics
Penn Integrates Knowledge (PIK) Professor
Department of Medical Ethics, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
Department of History and Sociology of Science, University of Pennsylvania
Author and Co-Editor of Ethical Guidelines for Innovative Surgery (University Publishing Group, 2006)

Daniel Eun, MDAssistant Professor of Urology in Surgery, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
Penn Urology at Pennsylvania Hospital

Additional Panel Participants for Q & A:

John Y.K. Lee, MDAssistant Professor of Neurosurgery, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
Medical Director, Gamma Knife Center, Penn Neurosurgery at Pennsylvania Hospital

Jason G. Newman, MDAssistant Professor of Otorhinolaryngology: Head & Neck Surgery, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
Director, Head and Neck Cancer Clinical Research Group, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Penn Medicine at Pennsylvania Hospital

William C. Welch, MD, FACS, FICSProfessor of Neurosurgery, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
Chief of Neurosurgery, Pennsylvania Hospital

* Discounted garage parking is available on Delancey St. between 7th & 8th Sts.
** Please enter via the main hospital entrance on 8th St. between Spruce and Pine and check in at the Information Desk.

HOW:

New! Live streaming video webcast. A recording of the event will also be available on demand via the link below following the event. A recording of the event will also be available on demand. To sign up for webcast, please e-mail Lee-Ann Landis at Lee-Ann.Landis@uphs.upenn.edu

The Perelman School of Medicine has been ranked among the top five medical schools in the United States for the past 17 years, according to U.S. News & World Report's survey of research-oriented medical schools. The School is consistently among the nation's top recipients of funding from the National Institutes of Health, with $392 million awarded in the 2013 fiscal year.

The University of Pennsylvania Health System's patient care facilities include: The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania -- recognized as one of the nation's top "Honor Roll" hospitals by U.S. News & World Report; Penn Presbyterian Medical Center; Chester County Hospital; Lancaster General Health; Penn Wissahickon Hospice; and Pennsylvania Hospital -- the nation's first hospital, founded in 1751. Additional affiliated inpatient care facilities and services throughout the Philadelphia region include Chestnut Hill Hospital and Good Shepherd Penn Partners, a partnership between Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Network and Penn Medicine.

Penn Medicine is committed to improving lives and health through a variety of community-based programs and activities. In fiscal year 2013, Penn Medicine provided $814 million to benefit our community.